Through it came a glory of sunshine and the fresh breath of the forest laden with the perfume of wild flowers and balsam.

A thousand birds seemed caroling and twittering in the sunlit solitude about the cabin.

Beyond this there was no other sound or sign of life.

For many minutes Nathaniel stood in the open, his eyes on the path along which he knew that Strang's wife would come--if she came at all.

Suddenly he began to examine the ground where the girl had stood the previous night.